Confused about making iron oxide?
I am making some iron oxide using the method with the 9 volt and nail in saltwater. Im a little confused however in all the thermite instuctables it says that the wire that bubbles the most is the positve wire. When i connect the (what the battery says) is positive to the nails and insert the negative into the water it seems like more bubbles are kinda comming off the stripped negative wire.
The water is turning a little green(update-its not to green anymore)
There is brown stuff floating at the top of the water.which doesnt burn my skin and smells like metal.
I am using copper wire.
Any suggestions?
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a great way to make iron oxide is to take a blowtorch or other flame to steel wool in aluminum foil (to catch the FeO).
Sep 30, 2009. 9:31 AMBerkin
says:
I have a very large cell with a 1.5 lb railroad bolt in it, I know a good bit about electrolysis. You need the bolt to be the anode. The electrode that bubbles is the cathode.
To oxidise iron you need the iron to be connected to the +ve electrode. If your solution went green I think it more likely that it's a copper salt rather than iron, and you've got them the wrong way around. But you're telling us that you haven't ? What are you working from (link)? L
May 29, 2009. 1:53 PMThe Red Button (author)
says:
idk. its not green anymore. but its got sludgey floating brown/orangey stuff at the top. can the iron oxide float?
Most things will float if the particles are small enough (technically, you've made a colloid of iron oxide).
May 29, 2009. 1:55 PMThe Red Button (author)
says:
and the sludgey stuff smells like metallic stuff
Bake it / roast it (sludge) - it should go black - sounds like you've got your oxide. L
May 30, 2009. 1:48 PMThe Red Button (author)
says:
yeah. it is black once it drys on the filter. i thought iron oxide was like orangey rust colored brown though?
The hydrate (rust) is orangey-brown, baking it to black (dry) is something you'd need to do I think. L
May 30, 2009. 4:44 PMThe Red Button (author)
says:
yeah. looks like its all working out. thanks
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